The world is watching

In a genuine democracy, intimidation of the judicial branch by the administrative branch is unthinkable.

But in Thailand, the Yingluck government is doing exactly that.

Justice-loving Thais were grateful when Transparency International, a non-profit global anti-graft group, spoke up to warn the Yingluck government and its supporters against intimidating the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) as it investigates charges that Yingluck neglected her duties in overseeing the controversial rice-pledging scheme.

Furthermore, the government still refuses to respond to allegations that it has been negligent over the smuggling in of M79 grenades from a neighbouring country that are being used to intimidate its citizens.

This grenade was recently used to attack NACC headquarters. The same war weapon has been fired at anti-government rallies over the past six months.

Twenty people have died and more than 700 injured as a result of these brutal attacks on peaceful protest sites. Among those killed were four small children. No suspects have been caught so far.

Sixteen farmers have also committed suicide as a result of the government’s failure to pay for their rice under the pledging scheme.

This disaster was abetted by government inefficiency in failing to offload its rice stockpiles quickly enough.

In light of these events, the international community must stay alert to undemocratic behaviour being practised by the Thai government on its own people.